Simplicity By Design

Simplicity by Design

“In character, in manner, in style, in all things, the supreme excellence is simplicity.”

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (February 27, 1807 – March 24, 1882)

Lisa Winand GR4750 | Senior Project Marcela Leon Fall 2008

Page  Modern living has become increasingly more stressful and complicated through the advent of technology and industry, and the sheer volume of choices available to us as well as demands on our time and resources. This article explores how simplicity in the form of good design in products, technology and daily life contributes to a sense of enrichment and enjoyment that may have been lost in these increasingly complex times.

Dictionary.com defines simplicity as: Freedom from complexity, intricacy, or division into parts; and absence of luxury, pretentiousness, ornament, etc.1 From this definition, freedom from complexity or division into parts implies wholeness, harmony and integrity. It is the integration of these qualities in all aspects of modern living that herald a rich and meaningful human experience.

Since man first discovered fire, he has designed tools to make his life easier and more comfortable. From the first spearhead to the mp3 player, his inventions have become increasingly more complex. Somewhere along the way, designs for living have passed necessity into the realms of luxury, excess and extravagence into just plain too complicated to use. Devices that were meant to simplifly tasks in order to leave room for more leisure activities have themselves become more demanding of our time and energy. In order to keep up with his neighbors in acquiring these “time-saving” devices, man works harder to buy these items and crams more hours into his day maintaining and learning to use them.

Complexity has taken over our basic chores, our communications, our leisure activities, and our basic routines. Foraging in the forest for basic sustainance has been replaced by a trek to the grocery store in a vehicle run not only by fossil fuels but also by a sophicated computer system, equipped with a navigation system because we are too lazy to read a map and write down directions, and a television in the back because our children are unable to sit quietly for a ten-minute trip while they draw or read a book. Once at our destination, we are greeted

Page  with an avalanche of products all claiming to be new, improved, bigger and better than the ones beside them on the shelf. At the checkout counter, we are faced with a choice of paper bags, which are responsible for the hole in the ozone layer due to the destruction of the forests used to create the bags, or plastic bags, that take up to 500 years to decompose. Instead of pulling out the appropriate amount of money for the purchase, we must choose from an array of non-biodegradable plastic cards with varying interest rates or bonus points assigned to their use. Once home from the store, we are fast with a multitude of chores impossible to be completed in one day. Which ones do we choose? The basic needs for food, shelter and warmth have become increasingly more complicated to acquire. Every aspect of life presents us with more choices, expenses and demands on our time.

Perhaps in response to this, there has been a recent trend toward the desire for simplicity in all areas of living: In the amount and type of material goods we consume; in our homes; in technology; in our schedules; in business; in how we interact with the world and each other. Called Voluntary Simplicity or Radical Simplicity, depending on the source and the extremity of the measures taken to acheive it, it shows a growing desire to trim the excess and eliminate the complications in daily life in order to appreciate the things we value most and make time for the things that really matter to us.

A Historical View of Simplicity and Complexity

The ideal of simplicity has been an important part of man’s intellectual history long before life became this complicated. Socrates promoted the idea of living in balance between wealth and poverty. Aristotle and Plato saw this idea as the “golden mean,” or the middle path between overabundance and lack. The goal was to live in material moderation but with increased mental effort.

Page  In the Doctrine of Divine Simplicity, Saint Anselm of Canterbury (1033-1109) concluded that since the divine does not exist in any particular place or time, it is without parts and therefore is perfect in its simplicity. He argues that something composed of individual parts depends upon those parts for it existence; therefore the divine, in its wholeness, is perfect on its own.

During this time in history, design also began to take a more simple approach. The excesses in art and architecture during the middle ages were being replaced by the Romanesque style. Looking to the ancient Romans for inspiration, painting and sculpture became simpler, almost primitive, and while still large and pretentious, public buildings and houses of worship lost much of their decorative fluff and became more sparse and geometric. Perhaps humanity was already experiencing a feeling that development in civization was reflected in the complexity of design, and spirituality and lofty aspirations were being lost in the increase of “stuff.”

Ironically, decadence in design and excesses of embellishment had to this point been most notable in art and architecture devoted to spiritual worhip, including the attire and accoutrements of the clergy.

The formation of the early Franciscan order in 1209 or 1210 is a reflection that material richness was beginning to detract from a deeper, more meaningful way of life. The Franciscans introduced the idea of simplicity in all things as the way to purity in spirit. St. Francis and his original followers renounced personal possessions and the ownership of land; they could not receive or handle money and therefore worked for their food each day. As is expected in the course of human nature, a more progressive branch of the order, the Dominicans, eventually formed. The Dominicans rejected the idea of “spiritual poverty” and lack of material goods as being irrelevent to a life dedicated to sprituality, and sought to

Page  incorporate more luxurious living into the way of life, as did a “moderate” branch that held on to the ideals of poverty and simplicity yet supported the prospect of change.

The medieval philosopher William of Ockham (c. 1287-1347) was one of those imprisoned for appealing the decision that the Franciscans should be entitled to own property and that their doctrine of poverty was heretical. In his Principle of Parsimony, Occam proposed that in forming hypotheses, one should not make more assumptions than are necessary, and should eliminate the ones that won’t make any difference in the outcome. This basically means that when considering several options, the simplest is the best. For example, in a graph, a straight line will pass through two points more efficiently than a wildly curving one. Although both will achieve the same result, the straight line is the quickest and most efficient. Similarly, Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) wrote that “If a thing can be done aquequately by means of one, it is superfluous to do it by means of several; for we observe that nature does not employ two instruments where one suffices.”2

The Quest for simplicity made its way to the New World along with its early inhabitants. In America, the Religious Society of Friends, or Quakers, adhere to the Testimony of Simplicity, the idea that all life centers around one goal: their relationship with the divine. Quakers apply this testimony to all aspects of living: dress, implements, manner of speech, and leisure activities, in the belief that simple living takes them from physical attachment to the outside world in an effort to connect their minds with the divine. The Quakers’ philosophy of simple living and plainness in all things follows that of the Desert Fathers, the Franciscans, and the Mennonites in rejecting the luxurious trappings of Christianity embodied in elaborate garments, important titles, and forcing beliefs on others through war and persecution. The Quakers’ simplicity was characterized by the ideal of integrity, or the link between belief and behavior. By living plainly, the purity of inner thought was reflected in a person’s actions, dress, and lifestyle.

Page  This plainness was also expressed in the architecture of their houses of worhip and the design of their furniture and household items. Meeting houses were not to be ornamented with stained glass windows or even crosses, as these were thought to be visual distractions that took away from the spiritual experience.

The Friends’ strict adherence to plain dress and rejection of luxury would change with Margaret Fell (1614 - 1702), who challenged the necessity of plainness in relation to inner goodness. Yearly Meetings during the 1850s - ‘60s began to see a trend in making the pursuit of plainness and simplicity optional and even unnecessary. Today, even among Conservative Friends, members listen to their own inner voices to determine how they should dress, and most Quakers aren’t outwardly different than other members of society. Rather, they attempt to live the spirit of the Testimony of Simplicity. The Quakers’ adaptation to modern living, or their eventual giving in to the lure of luxury, raises the question of whether, given a choice, people can find the same spiritual fulfillment living a life of wealth as those living a life of simplicity.

However, Quaker design is still synonymous with the ideals of simplicity, functionality and impeccable workmanship. Modern Quaker furnishings are intantly recognizable with their clean lines, quality materials and expert craftsmanship. They are a shining example of the beauty of simplicity and the idea that form follows function. An item of Quaker furniture several hundred years old has a timeless artistry that fits seamlessly into the most modern decor.

The Industrial Revolution and the Communist Ideal

The United States is a country built from the ground up by settlers who fled from Europe in the hopes of making a fresh start. They were in search of independence and freedom from oppressive forms of government and restrictions on theological expression. Early settlers

Page  brought with them only what they could easily carry, so early homes and furnishings were constructed from local materials and were sparse and simplistic.

By the time the American Civil War rolled around, the U.S. had become largely a land of wealth and plenty. Each distinct area of the country has its own strengths upon which to build its wealth. According to an article by Martin Kelly, “The South was largely comprised of small and large plantations that grew crops such as cotton, which were labor intensive. The North, on the other hand, was more of a manufacturing center, using raw materials to create finished goods.”3 The American South, in particular, was a center of material luxury and cultural refinement, in spite of extreme cultural injustice and class division. Wealthy plantation owners lived in magnificent mansions. Clothing and furnishings showed a return to excess and luxury in design. Richness in living was once again expressed in richness of materials and elaborate details.

Following the devastation of the Civil War and the Reconstruction, The Industrial Revolution saw the dawn of a new affluence. Wealth and power now belonged not only to the aristocracy but to the new capitalist class. As production increased, so did corporate wealth and consumer gluttony. Satisfaction with life’s basic needs decreased as the upper class found new wants and desires to be fed. The widening separation between classes became more apparent, which exists to this day. Life would become more complicated for both the capitalist class and the working class – one seeking to maintain and increase a life of luxury, while the other engaged in a constant struggle to live comfortably or even to merely survive.

The Industrial Revolution saw a marked change in design as well. Design and manufacturing moved from fulfilling a need to presenting items to the market in order to turn a profit. The machine age enabled manufactures to produce items quickly and

Page  cheaply and to sell more items at a lower cost. Quality and integrity in design took a back seat to quantity and the market’s need to have more. Processes that could previously be done by hand, such as detailed carvings and intricate textile patterns, were now churned out by machines. Large corporations began to suck the lifeblood from small, family-owned businesses that still relied on quality materials and craftsmanship in their products. Design was less about form, function and excellence and more about putting money in the pockets of the corporations’ stakeholders.

Concurrent with the rise of capitalism, Karl Marx and Frederick Engels introduced the Communist Manifesto in 1848, with the hopes of eliminating the class struggle by distributing wealth evenly among the working class.

The Communist Manifesto traces the history of social order and the inequality of classes to feudal times. It examines how the aristocratic class is now replaced by the capitalist class, while the workers maintain the same position and endure the same hardships. It details how large corporations drive the small business owner down into the working class since they are unable to compete on the same level, and how the development of machinery and technology eliminates jobs that were once the livelihood of the laborer. It illustrates how the minimum wage is barely enough for the laborer and his family to subsist on . It mentions the “epidemic of over-production,” and how the overabundance of products, industry and commerce has glutted civilization with the ever-increasing greed to buy and make more. The most shocking aspect of the Manifesto is that it could well have been written today; it seems that little has changed in almost 150 years.

The Manifesto can also be seen as a desire to return to simplicity in an age of excess. Its Utopian ideal is based on a life of hard work and equal pay for all workers, suggesting that jobs in every aspect of society are equally important. Its theory of the abolishment

Page  of commercially owned property and the exclusive ownership of property by the wealthy suggests of the Fransiscan’s doctrine of poverty. Although Communism renounced organized religion, it did aspire to a return to a more simple way of life.

The themes of excess and materialism in society have been a constant in our antropological history. In her article, What is Meant by Historical Materialism, Nancy Mitchell relates that “Materialist philosophy said that all ideas have their root in the material conditions out of which they come.”4 This was the philosophy that Marx and Engels drew on to summarize the dynamics of capitalist society. It was a radical philosophical viewpoint, as most philosophy of that time reflected idealism, or the concept that the physical world reflected man’s inner processes. Mitchell writes that in the capitalist mind, a hierarchal class society and the competition to rise to the top are basic human nature and have always been part of society. However, scientific socialism, as opposed to utopian socialism, states that the only constant is change. The unequal distribution of wealth is unsustainable and therefore cannot remain stable.

In contrast, Cultural Materialism, as described in an article by Jon Marcoux, is a theory based on the study of social systems within a materialistic culture. It argues that structures such as government, organized religion, and the law would not exist if they were not beneficial to society. It argues that unequal power between the classes is important to both sides, as it creates diversity within cultures. This view was established in the late 1960s with the theory in anthropology that the forces in each culture were unique in themselves and therefore one should not be compared to the other. This rejects the Marxist idea that capitalism is only beneficial to the upper class with the theory that inequality of power is beneficial to both classes. Cultural Materialism has been criticized by several schools of anthropological thought, including Marxists, Structuralists and Postmodernists, by being too simplistic a view of societal structure.

Page 10 Ethics in a Materialistic Society

In a 2007 lecture given in Denver, CO, Arun Gandhi, the grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, spoke of how society should decrease its materialistic tendencies and return to basic values in order to find balance in business and their interactions with each other. The younger Gandhi draws a correlation between an increase in materialism and a decrease in morality. He feels that violence in society is a direct result of materialism, and that over consumption deprives not only other people, but the environment as well, which in his view is violence toward humanity. Gandhi does, however, feel that this system of violence can be corrected, saying that “What has been built can be rebuilt.”5

Materialism is the theory that wealth and material belongings create a sense of well-being in their owner. It is idea that material goods can fill an inner void. Through materialism, people attribute their self-worth and self-perception to the status of the items they buy, own and wear. Advertisers are well aware of this fact, and capitalize on it to sell products. They draw on the consumers’ need to feel smarter, more attractive, more envied and admired by their neighbors through the products they buy. Statistics show that in 1999, American consumers spent $77.1 billion more than their disposable income, by selling assets and going into debt.6

Ironically, according to research, people who tend to be materialist also report having lower self-esteem. Those with higher income levels also claim to be less happy and satisfied and are more prone to anxiety and depression. This relationship of materialism to happiness was found to be consistent in several countries including Germany, England, Australia, South Korea and Singapore.7 People in developed nations tend to have a stronger belief that happiness is directly related to wealth and material possessions than those in developing nations, although statistics show that this is not the reality. The concept of poverty does not indicate a specific level of income; it is a reflection of a society’s perception of what an

Page 11 acceptable standard of living is. Therefore, those in developing countries, whose basic needs are met but do not live in excess, report higher levels of personal happiness. They do not feel that their lives are lacking when their lifestyles are within their culture’s norm. A simple, traditional way of living is more satisfying to them than that of the affluent who are also in search of more.

Relationship of Wealth to Happiness According to research, there is no relationship to the amount of personal wealth and individual happiness. In fact, once a moderate standard of living is achieved, an increase of wealth and possessions do not equal an increase in happiness. According to a report by Forbes magazine, a comparison of a group of wealthy Australian executives, making $100 million a year and the Masai people of East Africa, making $100 a month, showed no difference in their levels of personal happiness. In addition, the article also implies that increased wealth also parallels a decrease in the level of happiness.8 From this, we can conclude that a simpler lifestyle devoid of excess can actually make life more enjoyable.

This idea was, in fact, proven in the Gross National Happiness project begun in 1972 by the King of Bhutan. Bhutan is a tiny nation in Southeast Asia, bordered by India and Tibet, and has a population of less than 1 million. Supported by the Buddhist principle that inner happiness is the ultimate purpose of life, this country measures its success by GNH (Gross National Happiness) rather than GNP (Gross National Product), the measure of economic growth. The project maintains the importance of keeping social and cultural customs despite the Westernization of more isolated societies.

To achieve this, it concentrates on four areas: corporate social responsibility, sustainability of the environment, quality of life and the preservation of culture, and governmental

Page 12 policies that support these goals. The Gross National Happiness project doesn’t seek to reject progress, the global economy, or the free exchange of information, but rather strives to preserve its culture while keeping up with modern advances. The Bhutanese believe that happiness is a result of both material and non-material needs, and that proper governance can promote both of these.

The Gross National Happiness Project was implemented gradually with a series of FiveYear plans. Strict laws are in place to preserve Bhutan’s natural resources: although 26 percent of Bhutan’s land is designed as parks, 60 percent of the nation’s land must remain as forest. Bhutan’s mountains are home to the world’s highest unclimbed peak, which must remain so as to not disturb the spirits. The Bhutanese government spends “18 percent of its national budget on education and health care.”9 Development of the GNH project seeks to include more opportunity for the people to participate in developmental decisions such as sustainability issues.

The goals of the Gross National Happiness Project: Individual happiness, preservation of culture, quality of life, and sustainability of natural resources, imply that a simple way of living is highly rewarding. Cultural preservation proves that design that works doesn’t need to be improved upon or made more “modern” or complicated. Objects that fill their purpose in the simplest ways do not need to be made more complex simply because they can be.

On an financial scale, Finland has one of the most successful economic climates in Europe. Finland is geographically isolated and was a mainly agricultural society until the late 19th century, and so was hit by the Industrial Revolution much later in its history than the rest of Europe and America. Finland became an independent country in 1917, and in the early 1980s freed its financial sector, creating a credit boom which ended abruptly in 1991. From

Page 13 there, Finland’s economy underwent a major reconstruction. Now, Finland is a world leader in four categories: Business freedom, monetary freedom, financial freedom, and freedom from corruption. Since joining the European Union in 1995, it has one of the bestperforming economies in the world.10

Finland’s success lies in its ability to turn a potential economic crisis into a new opportunity. It was able to regroup by focusing on its country’s strong point: knowledge in information and communications technology. It was able to move from resource-driven to knowledgedriven development to become a specialized economy, which fueled its economic growth. Since the beginning of the 21st century to now, Finland has ranked number one in the World Economic Forum’s competitive index four times, and as one of the world’s most developed IT economies.11 By concentrating on one area of specialization, Finland was able to find success through eliminating the areas of its economy that were not working and focus on its area of greatest strength.

Finland’s design sense reflects its economic and cultural ideals. Finland’s industrial strong point, its technology, is the best in the world. Scandinavian design is clean, simple and wellmade, much like Quaker furnishings. Its minimal design is economical in both the artistic and financial senses, as it is built to last and has a timeless appeal that can last the owner’s lifetime. This is the mark of truly good design.

Economic Cycles and Simplicity

Economic cycles, or business cycles, are fluctuations in national income. These cycles typically undergo four stages: expansion, prosperity, contraction, and recession. Recessions usually last approximately 18-24 months and are the result of a combination of lower disposable income, higher unemployment and higher prices for commodities such as

Page 14 food and oil. The key point in the idea of economic cycles is that they are, in fact, cycles. A boom is always followed by a recession, and so on. With this in mind, it is ironic how during a boom, people don’t plan to save for the recession that is certain to follow. An increase in disposable income leads to increased spending, which stimulates the economy, but if history is any indication, the surge in national affluence is bound to be short lived.

These cycles can also be seen in the evolution of design. Consider the excess of Rococo design during the French empire, the lavish clothing just preceeding the American Civil War, the sparse, simple design of clothing and furnishings during the war-torn 1940s, and the clean, streamlined look of items made in the conservative 1950s. Design is a direct reflection of the cultural and economic influences of its subscribers. Economic excess shows in the frivolity, luxury or unnecessary embellishements of items made during a boom time. Design extravagence is then followed by a trend in a more minimalist, simplistic look. This suggests that visual excess is easily tired of and so is as unsustainable as financial excess.

The Nature of Simplicity

In keeping with the idea of simple living as a social ideal, it must be made clear that simplicity does not mean poverty, lack of necessities, or otherwise going without. It is the elimination of that which is unnecessary in order to make room for what is most meaningful. This applies not only material things, but to all aspects of living.

Simplicity in this context means having quality of experience versus quantity of choices. It is selecting objects based on good design and excellent craftmanship and limiting material possessions to those items we love most rather than filling the excess space in our homes with more unnecessary objects than we could ever need. It is selecting functional items that offer ease of use along with only the functions we really need, rather than

Page 15 complicated gadgets that boast a confusing array of features. It also means designing a rich and meaningful life for ourselves by focusing on that which gives us the most enjoyment, whether it is leisure time, family and friends, hobbies or even rewarding work. We do this by eliminating the clutter in our lives that detract from these things. Simplicity means having only that which gives our lives the most meaning, focusing on a few quality choices rather than the sheer volume of available selections.

In design, this view of simplicity means finding out what features are really necessary in an object and designing it to follow that function without the addition of unnecessary features and embellishments. It is also building the item with quality materials meant to make the item last rather than to be quickly replaced. As a consumer, it means buying only those items we truly need and selecting those which offer ease of use, functional aesthetics, and features that truly make our lives easier and more meaningful.

More is Better, Turn up the Noise, and Less is Greater than Zero

On his blog, John Maeda explores the theory that more is better with the quote, “When the richness of an experience in increased in a manner that facilitates the perception of the overall intent, by all means don’t skimp, add more!”12 He talks about how watching a television program with the additional feature of text applied to the usual audio and video gives the experience more dimension so that the sensory perception is almost overpowering. In some instances, adding more can in fact make something better, such as the many courses in a fabulous meal, or the many layers of sound in a symphony. Some things were meant to be complex, and in these instances, simplifying them diminishes them rather than making them better.

Page 16 In his entry, Turning Up the Noise, John Maeda reinforces the idea that some additional features are necessary. His sixth law of simplicity states, “In order to ‘feel,’ you gotta have noise. Too much noise, and all you’ve got is noise.”13 He is referring to the textures of life that enrich the experiences taken in through each of the senses: The “visual noise” that is art; the aural noise that is “music,” the noise of life experience, which is “chance.” This suggests that the addition of certain stimuli to the environment can enhance and enrich the life experience, but that excess creates chaos. Just as is nature, there must be a balance in all things to create harmony.

Maeda also introduces the concept that Less is Greater Than Zero. He explains that simplicity is not about having nothing, it is about having some. Rather than being at extreme odds with complexity, it involves a balance of both. The balance is not necessarily right in the middle, but at some point between the two. He reinforces the idea that simplicity is not about deprivation, and that there is a difference between “zero, a little more than zero, more than zero, and much more than zero.”14

Maeda’s 10 Laws of Simplicity

In his book, The Laws of Simplicity, John Maeda introduces ten laws designed to balance simplicity and complexity in the realms of design, business and technology. They are based on his original concept that “simplicity equals sanity.” He implies that it is human nature to want more, but a recent marketing trend shows that people want products and services that are simple and uncomplicated.

Page 17 Maeda’s 10 Laws of Simplicity are:

1. REDUCE: The simplest way to achieve simplicity is through thoughtful reduction.

2. ORGANIZE: Organization makes a system of many appear fewer.

3. TIME: Savings in time feel like simplicity.

4. LEARN: Knowledge makes everything simpler.

5. DIFFERENCES: Simplicity and complexity need each other.

6. CONTEXT: What lies in the periphery of simplicity is definitely not peripheral.

7. EMOTION: More emotions are better than less.

8. TRUST: In simplicity we trust.

9. FAILURE: Some things can never be made simple.

10. THE ONE: Simplicity is about subtracting the obvious, and adding the meaningful.15

In addition to the 10 laws, Maeda adds three “keys:”

1. AWAY: More appears like less by simply moving it far, far away.

2. OPEN: Openness simplifies complexity.

Page 18 3. POWER: Use less, gain more.15

Some of the laws are basic and some are more abstract, but Maeda gives explanations on how to apply these laws to the relevant areas they talk about. He relates each one to his own experiences with a little story, so that the reader can apply it to his own situation.

Enriching Our Lives Through Simplicity

The author Dan Price (1957- ) has lived the ideal of simplicity for most of his adulthood. Since childhood, he has constructed spare and unusual dwellings in which to live completely in accord with nature. He feels driven to live as nomadic people did: as huntergatherers who live off the land. In his book, Radical Simplicity, he says:

“If man has actually lived the life of a free nomadic hunter-gatherer for over 99 percent of his time on earth, where did all the societal concepts come from that so quickly got the masses marching in lockstep? Why are so few simpler lifestyles deemed normal in this sped-up world?”16

Price has lived in structures ranging from teepees, to shacks built from salvaged lumber, to his current residence: a dugout under the earth. His humble series of domains showed an amazing sense of creativity and resourcefulness. They are made to provide only the bare necessities: warmth and shelter. They are design at its finest: simple, efficient and yet wildly creative.

Although his lifestyle may seem extreme, this desire to return to a more simple life is being felt by a growing number of modern citizens, as evidenced by the array of books written on the topic.

Page 19 Writer Duane Elgin (1943- ) describes Voluntary Simplicity as “...a manner of living that is outwardly more simple and inwardly more rich.”

In his book by the same name, he says:

“Voluntary simplicity involves both inner and outer condition. It means singleness of purpose, sincerity and honesty within, as well as avoidance of exterior clutter, of many possessions irrelevant to the chief purpose of life. It means an ordering and guiding of our energy and our desires, a partial restraint in some directions in order to secure greater abundance of life in other directions. It involves a deliberate organization of life for a purpose.”17

This passage sums up the simplicity movement perfectly. The desire to find inner enrichment and a deeper meaning of life in this hectic modern pace seems to be the driving factor behind the quest for a simpler life. People no longer find fulfillment in acquiring material wealth. They aren’t willing to work ever-lengthening hours in order to keep and maintain their possessions. They are searching for a reconnection with nature and spirituality.

The Reasons Behind the Trend in Simplicity

In his introduction to Elgin’s book, Ram Dass (1931- ) says, “...the Western orientation in living may be viewed as a necessary part of an evolutionary cycle stage out of which yet another birth of higher consciousness – as an amalgam of East and West – might subsequently evolve. The Industrial Revolution, then, is part of a larger revoluton in living.”18

Page 20 By this observation, the greed and excess consumption which began in the Industrial Revolution was a necessary stepping stone to the current growing sense of enlightenment. Similar to economic cycles and alternating trends of excess and simplicity in art and architecture, the human spirit appears to go through cycles of gluttony and the desire for spiritual enrichment. Once the height of excess material wealth is experienced, it becomes less inwardly rewarding for the consumer, who then reconsiders what will make him truly happy.

Selfish over-abundance also is not sustainable. According to research, people take 20 percent more of the earth’s resources than it can produce. The awareness that this lifestyle simply cannot be maintained is another reason to consider simplicity. By comsuming resources more slowly than the earth regenerates them, sustainablity is possible. By living modestly and not wasting resources, the earth can sustain everyone comfortably. In order for this to happen, people must make a conscious effort not to use more than their share.

Complexity versus Simplicity

Complexity is a phenomenon inherent in nature. In this respect, simplicity and complexity are not opposite extremes, but exist simultaneously. Natural rhythms such as the phases of the moon and the change of the seasons are regular, predictable and therefore simple, but randomness exists in weather and diversity of terrain. Individual organisms are incredibly complex units; the higher on the food chain, the more complex the unit is. The human body contains organs and parts that appear to have no purpose or function. DNA strands contain both coding DNA and non-coding or “junk” DNA – patterns that seem to have no purpose or make the organism susceptible to defects or disease. A single lightning bolt emits a full range of electromagnetic frequencies. The sheer range of plant and animal species is so vast that we are still discovering previously unknown varieties. This would assume that

Page 21 technology and anything else that is artificially designed is basically simplistic in that it has a purpose and a precise function to perform. Random occurrences simply do not spring from manmade design.

Complexity also does not necessarily mean “complicated.” Consumers want well-designed technology and interfaces that are powerful and perform a multitude of functions, yet are easy to use. Technology that is “complex” falls into the previous category; technology that is “complicated” is too difficult for the average person to use and therefore is undesirable. “Basic” technology performs only minimal functions while “simple” technology is easy to understand and learn. By this logic, an item can be at once simple and complex.

Simplicity Applied To Our Lives

The basic idea that a simpler lifestyle mean eliminating the unnecessary and unimportant to make room for what is most enriching is easily applied to all areas of our lives: Environment, technology, work and daily tasks. Freedom from clutter and distractions, improved efficiency and more time for the things that we most enjoy, enhance each of these aspects equally.

The environment we live in strongly affects who we are and how we feel and behave. A peaceful sanctuary to return to at the end of the day does wonders for the soul. Streamlining the home and household choirs creates a calm, stress-free environment with more time to relax and enjoy our leisure time.

Page 22 Environmental Simplicity

In the United States, people traditional begin with a small “starter home” and move into progressively larger ones to house their growing families and expanding collections of belongings. According to research, the average home in 1970 was 1,400 square feet. In 2004, it was 2,330 square feet. Along with larger houses come higher utility bills and more time spent on cleaning and maintenance. More often than not, owners increase the amount of their possessions as they have more space to utilize. The large house becomes just as cluttered and hard to keep up as the smaller home was. Getting rid of unnecessary and excess items and moving back into a smaller living space may be the answer, especially as real estate prices increase and the economy continues its downward trend. A smaller home means having to be extremely organized to stay clutter-free, but the time and money saved on heating, cooling, maintenance and cleaning leaves room to spend on other, more enjoyable activities.

The idea of a minimalist home may be an extreme for most people – we love our belongings and creature comforts. However, streamlining the home by eliminating all but the most necessary and valued items and creating out-of-sight storage for those not used regularly creates a peaceful, clutter-free environment that is easier to maintain.

Clutter creates visual chaos. In addition to taking longer to clean, it creates mental distraction, making it hard to focus on tasks at hand. Minimal furniture and accessories and clear surfaces create a calming environment. This doesn’t mean a cold, sterile interior devoid of all decoration and accessories; it means leaving room for the most valued and appreciated belongings that give a home character and raise the spirits of the owner. A simple room gives artworks that much more impact. A few pieces of quality furniture are more comforting and appealing than a room full of cheaply made items. Storing away

Page 23 small appliances and electronics until they are needed follows Maeda’s suggestion of simplification by hiding.

A beautiful example of simplicity and efficiency in the home is that of Japanese Minimalist design. According to research, the Japanese are the most energy-efficient culture in the world. Their homes make strategic use of space within small areas. The architecture and furnishings are clean, simple and balanced. The absence of excess surface decoration eliminates wasted materials and energy. Interiors use sliding panels to open up or close off parts of the rooms as space is needed. Floorplans are basic and easy to navigate. Durable, easy to maintain materials, such as glass and stainless steel make upkeep very easy, and the liberal use of glass lets in natural light, which saves energy. Japanese buildings blend seamlessly with the natural environment, adding to the feeling of harmony with nature.

At the heart of Japanese design sense is the philosophy of Wabi-Sabi. This is the idea of embracing imperfections and that which is unpretentious and unassuming. It is the concept of small doses in everything: details, features, palette, complexity. It is beauty in the inconspicuous and modest. The philosophy of Wabi-Sabi can be applied to everything from architecture, technology and human behavior. To experience simplicity in this way means to slow down and take a closer look at what is otherwise easily missed.

An interesting use of efficiency and simplicity in the home is found in the concept home for Zero House. Designed by Scott Specht, this house is a completely self-contained unit. Zero House creates its own electrical power through large solar panels that project from the roof. The house is then lit with light-emitting-diode (LED) lighting within the walls. The house collects rainwater from a 2700 gallon cistern on the roof, and at the bottom level, organic waste is processed into compost. At 650 square feet, the living area is remarkable small,

Page 24 but the plan is extremely efficient: the home’s two levels include a kitchen, living room, bathroom and two bedrooms, as well as two outdoor decks.

The most impressive point of the house is that it rests on four tubular steel poles inserted into the ground. This means that the earth is not destroyed to make room for a foundation, and the house can set into geographical areas that are otherwise impossible to build on, including swampland and steep terrain.

The small size of the house, plus its price tag –$350,000, or $538 per square foot, would most likely seem unreasonable at first to the average American homeowner. However, its extreme energy efficiency and lack of destruction to the land make it more than worth the initial cost.

Simplicity in Technology

Technology is designed to simplify our lives by making tasks faster and more efficient. However, according to research, half of returned technological products in the United States aren’t defective; owners simply can’t figure out how to use them. These returned products amount to a cost of one hundred billion dollars per year. Ironically, consumers are most attracted to those products that boast the most features and perform the most functions, but are soon discouraged by how complicated to use the products are. It was found that most consumers spend an average of twenty minutes trying to operate a new product before returning it to the store. The problem of “feature-creep,” or the addition of so many features that a product is too complicated to use, seems to result from the fact that the engineers and designers of the product are not the end users. These products are not designed with the average consumer in mind. Sales and marketing groups perceive added features as being attractive to customers, without considering whether the products are inherently usable. It has been found that the typical consumer frequently overestimates their own technical

Page 25 savvy, and then is frustrated when the product is too complex. The most successful product, then, is simply designed and easy to use and understand, while incorporating only those features that are necessary to the customer.

Another way that technology complicates life is the fact that the devices must be maintained. Batteries for the products must be charged, and unfortunately, the battery used for one device isn’t interchangeable with another. Cell phones, digital cameras, laptops, mp3 players and other gadgets take different sized batteries that use different chargers at varying amounts of charging time. To date, the only possible way to reduce the amount of maintenance required for these items is to eliminate the use of some of these items themselves. Simplifying technology in this respect requires reduction of the need for this much technology.

One argument against technology is that it is making people less intelligent. People don’t have to think, or even know how to spell, because a machine now does it for them. E-mail has reduced the ability to write a well-thought out, eloquent letter, and text messaging uses acronyms and shorthand for even the simplest words. The widespread use of the Internet has made a negative impact on social interactions and common courtesy, as we no longer need to communicate with an actual living person.

Before advances in technology, callers were unable to leave messengers if the person they were trying to reach wasn’t home. There was no Caller ID to enable us to screen calls. A disabled vehicle meant finding a pay phone in order to call for help. Technology has made voice communications much easier, although it can be argued that putting a caller on hold to take a more important call, or the indiscriminate use of cell phones in cars, stores, and restaurants, have degraded basic human courtesy.

Page 26 Research shows that all technological advances were met with apprehension when they were first introduced to the public. According to an article by Damon Darlin, Socrates thought that writing would inhibit man’s ability to think, and the introduction of the printing press elicited the same reaction. In 1972, engineering professors were afraid that the newly released hand-held calculator would impede their students’ aptitude for scientific thought.19 In contrast, some new technologies, such as software for filing taxes and automatic bill paying services, save consumers valuable time that can be used for other, more pleasurable activities. People may spend less time researching information in libraries, but Internet search engines give users a world of information at their fingertips, bringing them material they may never have found otherwise. People can order anything from pizza, vacation packages and automobiles on line. The time saved is balanced by a breakdown in simple human communications and social interaction as it is increasingly unnecessary to deal with actual living people to perform common tasks.

In his article, Does Technology Improve Our Lives or Just Complicate It? Matthew Jay offers an equation for balancing simplicity and complexity in technology: B=S+E-C, or technology benefit equals simplification and efficiency minus additional complication. He then goes on to say that this is accomplished by determining what you need and then accomplishing that with the least amount of difficulty, whether this is done by keeping things the way they are or changing them completely.20 Jay’s equation is a deceptively simple answer to the problem of increasing complexity in technology.

Simplicity in Business

An interesting point of view of simplicity in business is presented by Robert Kaye’s article, Less as a Competive Advantage: My 10 Minutes at Web 2.0 (2005). Kaye stresses the idea of “one-downing,” rather than “one-upping,” the competition through streamlining to cut

Page 27 costs and offer more effective solutions to customers. According to Kaye, only three people are necessary to get a new web-based business off the ground: a programmer, a designer and another who moves between these and also has marketing and business knowledge. Less people on the payroll save money that can be spent elsewhere, and less people on the job also means less time. According to Kaye’s theory, less time means time spent more efficiently. He also proposes less paperwork and less time spent on time wasting activities. What Kaye proposes businesses have more of is constraints, which forces people to become more creative, more efficient, and make better use of available time and money.21 While this very simplistic model may not work for all businesses, especially larger corporations, the idea of streamlining staff structure, time and finances can be applied to any company.

Learning to Simplify

On his blog, Zen Habits, Leo Babuata gives suggestions for creating a Simple Living Manifesto. It is based on two components: 1. Identify what’s important to you and 2. Eliminate everything else.18 He suggests beginning with a list of four or five priorities that are the most important to you. The goal of the Manifesto is to make room in your life for these top items. He then suggests evaluating your commitments and eliminating those that don’t give value to your life. The same theory is then applied to work habits and chores at home. When it becomes clear that all items on a list cannot be accomplished, focus on the most important ones and move the others to another day.

Two of the most important points that he makes are being present in each moment, and knowing what “enough” is. Living in the moment, or mindfulness, creates awareness of what you are experiencing in the present, without worrying about getting other things done. It is a very calming practice. Knowing what “enough” is breaks the cycle of constantly wanting

Page 28 more to make ourselves feel better. Limiting possessions to only those which you really love reinforces the idea of having quality rather than quantity.

Similarly, Shawn Tuttle suggests making a Simplicity Statement to define what simple living means to you. He suggests prioritizing items as well, and encourages looking back to a simpler time in your life to identify what feeling you had about that time and how those feelings can be recreated today. He advises to concentrate on what you want to manifest, rather than what you would like to eliminate. His most powerful suggestion is to strike the word “want” from your vocabulary, and instead imagine that feelings of well-being have already manifested in your life.23

Leo Babauta suggests ways to simplify tasks on his Zen Habits blog. When creating a thingsto-do list, he recommends a list of three priorities that need to be accomplished on a given day, and another list of smaller items that can be accomplished in a 30-minute time frame. He suggests knowing what your main goals are and letting those take precedence over less important items. Many large commitments can be spread out to different days of the week, and the smaller items consolidated into groups. Having a plan makes it easier to prioritize and eliminate items in order to simplify your schedule.24

Simplicity Versus Necessary Complexity

Occasionally, in order to reach simplicity, something must first become complex and then the excess parts eliminated. This is illustrated very well in Dan Ward’s article The Simplicity Cycle. Ward uses a graph with the axes of Complexity and Goodness, with the beginning point at the intersection of the two. The concept of Goodness is the ideal state of the completed project, whether that means functionality, usability or beauty.

Page 29 According to Ward’s model, the beginning of a project moves directly between the two poles to arrive at the Simplistic region. It then continues on this path by the addition of both Goodness and Complexity with new parts, functions and features. He addresses the idea that increased Complexity equals increased Goodness; that the project must stay on this path. However, the project has now become Complex and makes a turn toward the pole of Complexity through increased mental and physical effort. This now makes the project Complicated. In order to reach Goodness, the project must now be simplified and the extraneous parts taken away. He states that “...the amount of complexity in a system is a measure of how far away it is from its ideal state.”25 He also suggests that Complexity cannot be completely avoided; sometimes it is a necessary part of the process that must occur before the project reaches its ideal state. Therefore, simplicity and complexity need each other; they are both necessary stages in creation. Most ideas become more complex before they can be simplified.

Gestalt Law

In Chapter Two of The Laws of Simplicity, Maeda discusses how the principles of Gestalt Law are the heart of the disclipline of design. He traces the evolution of the iPod touch dial from simple to complex and back again, to show that good design is both simple and functional.

In Gestalt Law, the mind fills in missing parts of an item to form a whole. The human mind also tends to mentally group similar items together by making patterns, in order to make something more comprehensible. This mental organization is the driving force behind all good design. Maeda relates how the best designers squint when observing their surroundings – they are separating “the forest from the trees,” or mentally organizing what

Page 30 they see. He goes on to say that “...simplicity can be a creative way of looking at the world that is driven by design.”26

Wanting Things, Having Things, Being Happy

According to research, financial happiness and life happiness are more strongly tied in poor nations than in developed nations. Poorer societies experience more inner fulfillment, while those with the most material wealth find the least satisfaction in it. This is part of the tendency to align our sense of esteem with the amount and quality of our material goods, and to use material gain to ease our feelings of insecurity. Ironically, being materialistic is not seen as a positive quality by most people.

The tendency to compare ourselves unfavorably with others is also a factor in materialism. This trait is perpetrated by the advertising: if we buy certain products, we will be betterliked, more attractive, envied by others. The media takes advantage of our insecurities.

Happiness can be defined as emotional satisfaction and feelings of well-being. This can apply to happiness with one’s self-esteem, satisfaction in work, and overall feelings toward one’s life in general. According to studies, the one thing that would make most people happier is to have more money. However, the constant struggle to have and maintain more possessions creates more stress and feelings of inadequacy. In the U.S., depression most often strikes the wealthy and the younger generations.

Through simplicity and the result of increased quality of life, this pattern can be broken. By making time for satisfying emotional, creative and spiritual experiences and concentrating on inner rather than material fulfillment, the need to fill emotional deficiencies through

Page 31 material acquisition is unnecessary. Reducing, rather than increasing, material gain may be the solution to the general unhappiness of the wealthiest nation in the world.

Thoughts for a New Era

In his article, Beyond Simplicity: Tough Issues for a New Era,27 Albert J. Fritsch discusses how over-affluence is not sustainable due to the Internets role in making poor cultures aware of the unequal distribution of wealth.

The struggle between the classes is still very much alive, and now has spread on a global level. The Internet has brought knowledge and information to previously isolated parts of the globe. Poorer nations are now suddenly aware that they are poor compared to others, and their life satisfaction is diminished. The concentration of wealth to a chosen few while the rest of the world suffers is not sustainable, because it is not in balance.

The United States was founded to escape freedom from oppression. Today, the oppression is in the constant struggle for material gain, in the struggle to keep up with our neighbors, in the struggle to cram too much into our schedules. We have too many things and too many responsibilities, and we create too much stress on the environment. Through simplicity, balance is created and satisfaction is increased.

Through living in simplicity, the world’s wealth is redistributed, the hunger for material gain is destroyed, personal well-being is restored, and the environment can begin to be healed. The concept of simplicity is a radical change, but a powerful one.

Through simplicity in design, a new wholeness and integrity is reintroduced to modern culture. Things that are well-designed and truly functional make life easier rather than

Page 32 more complicated. Good design is simple, functional, aesthetically pleasing and timeless. It gives a sense of value and endurance, suggesting that progress is a positive thing meant to improve modern living by fulfilling a need in the simplest, most straightforward way without damage to the environment or comprising the ideal of individual ease and happiness. This is the ideal that all modern designers should strive for.

NOTES 1.

Simplicity. (n.d.). Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1). Retrieved November 02, 2008, from

Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/simplicity

2.

Simplicity. (2004, October 29). In Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy Online. Retrieved

October 19, 2008 from http://www.seop.leeds.ac.uk/entries/simplicity.

3

Kelly, M. (n.d.). Overview of the American Civil War - Secession. Retrieved December 7,

2008 from http://americanhistory.about.com/od/civilwarmenu/a/civiloverview.htm.

4.

Mitchell, N. (1998, December 3). What is Meant by Historical Materialism. In Workers

World. Retrieved October 19, 2008 from http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/10/035. html

5.

Singer, D. (2007, May 15). Discovering Ethics in Materialistic Society: Gandhi’s Grandson

Uses Theory of Nonviolence to Fix Today’s World. Retrieved October 19, 2008 from http://media.www.duclarion.com/media/storage/paper481/news/2007/05/15/News/ Discovering.Ethics.In.Materialistic.Society-2903897.shtml.

6.

Davis, M. (2005, June 19). Materialism in Today’s Society. Retrieved October 19, 2008 from

http://www.essaydepot.com/essayme/3728/index.php

Page 33 7.

Levitt, M. (2004, June 22). Superficial Modern Society Plagued by Egocentrism,

Materialism. In TheStateNews.com. Retrieved October 19, 2008 from http://www.statenews. com/index.php/article/2004/06/superficial_modern_society.

8.

Hartcher, P. (2007, August 17). Goodbye Wealth, Hello Happiness. Retrieved October

19, 2008 from http://www.smh.com.au/news/opinion/goodbye-wealth-hellohappiness/2007/08/16/1186857678276.html.

9.

Ardell, D. PhD. (2003, January 9). Gross National Happiness, Wellness in the Headlines

(Don’s Report to the World). Retrieved October 19, 2008 from http://www.seekwellness. com/wellness/reports/2003-01-09.htm.

10.

Index of Economic Freedom 2008 – Finland. (n.d.). In The Heritage Foundation Leadership

for America – A Product of the Heritage Foundation and the Wall Street Journal. Retrieved October 19, 2008 from http://www.heritage.org/Index/country.cfm?id=Finland.

11.

Dahlman, C., Routti, J., & Ylä Anttila, P. (2006). Finland as a Knowledge Economy: Elements of

Success and Lessons Learned. Retrieved October 19, 2008 from http://extendedoverview_fin.qxd.

12.

Maeda, J. (2005, June 13). More is Better. Retrieved October 19, 2008 from http://weblogs.

media.mit.edu/SIIMPLICITY/archives/000182.html#law

13.

Maeda, J. (2005, June 13). Turn up the Noise. Retrieved October 19, 2008 from http://

weblogs.media.mit.edu/SIIMPLICITY/archives/000196.html#law

14.

Maeda, J. (2005, June 13). Less is Greater Than Zero. Retrieved October 19, 2008 from

http://weblogs.media.mit.edu/SIIMPLICITY/archives/000230.html#law

Page 34 15, 26.

Maeda, J. (2006). The Laws of Simplicity (Simplicity: Design, Technology, Business, Life).

Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press.

16.

Price, D. (2005). Radical Simplicity: Creating an Authentic Life. Philadelphia, PA: Running

Press Book Publishers. 17.

Elgin, D. (1981). Voluntary Simplicity: Toward a Way of Life That Is Outwardly Simple,

Inwardly Rich. New York, NY: William Morrow and Company, Inc.

18.

Ram Dass. Introduction. Voluntary Simplicity. Elgin, D. (1981). New York, NY: William

Morrow and Company, Inc. 18.

19.

Darlin, D. (2008, September 20). Technology Doesn’t Dumb Us Down. It Frees Our Minds.

Retrieved October 19, 2008 from http://www.thewebsimplified.com/wordpress/?p=20.

20.

Jay, M. (2006, June 1). Does Technology Improve Our Lives or Just Complicate It? Retrieved

October 19, 2008 from http://lowendmac.com/jay/06/0601.html.

21.

Kaye, R. (2005, October 6). Less as a Competive Advantage: My 10 Minutes at Web 2.0.

Retrieved October 19, 2008 from http://www.37signals.com/svn/archives2/less_as_a_ competitive_advantage_my_10_minutes_at_web_20.php.

22.

Babuata, L. (2007, September 5). Simple Living Manifesto: 72 Ideas to Simplify Your

Life. Retrieved October 19, 2008 from http://www.zenhabits.net/2007/09/simple-livingmanifesto-72-ideas-to-simplify-your-life/

Page 35 23.

Tuttle, S. (2007, August 16). Creating a Simplicity Statement. Retrieved October 19, 2008

from http://projectsimplify.com/articles/creating-a-simplicity-statement. 24.

Babauta, L. (2007, June 5). Eliminate All But the Absolute Essential Tasks. In GTD,

Productivity & Organization, Simplicity, ZTD. Retrieved October 19, 2008 from http://zenhabits. net/2007/06/eliminate-all-but-the-absolute-essential-tasks/

25.

Ward, D. (2006.) The Simplicity Cycle. Retrieved October 19, 2008 from http://www.

changethis.com/22.SimplicityCycle.

27.

Fritsch, A. (n.d.). Beyond Simplicity: Tough Issues for a New Era. Retrieved October 19,

2008 from http://www.earthhealing.info/beyond.pdf

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